Thursday, May 21, 2015

FICTION OR NON FICTION? Based on true events. This fictional novel will leave you wondering. DUE DILIGENCE is a fast paced romantic thriller. It will take you on a journey full of intrigue, double crosses, corporate takeovers, money laundering, assassinations and a sinful love affair. Let your imagination wander as you witness the Cuban government's attempt to launder their illicit gains of over forty years utilizing our own Wall Street. Owen has written a unique fictional novel, incorporating his over 27 years with Wall Street companies. Born in Havana, Cuba and later growing up in Miami during the drug-war years, he has woven a tale that will leave you breathless. His creativity and first hand experiences make this a fast paced riveting suspense-filled thriller. You'll ask: could this really happen?

Reviewed by: Malin

Rating: 2 stars

Review: This
is the story of Alex and Julia, two Cubans that happen to cross paths in Paris;
however, this is not your typical love story. Set against the backdrop of
Cuba's social politics and vibrant landscapes, Due Diligence is a tale of corruption and power. Through the eyes
of Fidel Castro, a crucial character in the plot, readers are introduced to an enriching
history of Cuba and a ploy to commandeer a government.

It would
seem that there is conspiracy lurking in the shadows, and somehow Alex and
Julia are tossed in the mix. Alex is this hard-core, CIA militant with a
boxer's build and Julia is a descendant of the 1st president of Cuba. Although
they are two vital pieces in this convoluted chess match, they somehow created
a sparkling chemistry, adding a strong romantic element to this covert
thriller.

For the most
part, this was a well-written and exquisitely crafted story, but, personally,
I'm not big on politics, so some of the details were a bit daunting and
complex. I find that this would be better suited for those who are into
army-style and political co-ops.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Owen Parr has written a unique fictional novel. Utilizing his experiences of over a quater of a century working for Wall Street firms. Born in Havana, Cuba and later growing up in Miami through the 'drug war' years, he has woven a tale incorporating his first hand experiences and creativity into a fast paced riveting suspense-filled story.

Published author of articles in trade magazines. Hobby painter of acrylics on canvasses and middle of the road golfer, Owen spends his day still employed in the financial advice industry.

Newly married at the age of nineteen he pursued a career in electrical engineering until boredom set in. From there he went to own and operate his own multi-branch real estate firm and licensing school until the years of 21% prime interest rates circa 1980's.

Since 1986 he has been employed in the financial advice industry. During this time he has written articles for the local paper, political ramblings for his blog and screenplays that he is now converting into fictional novels.

Still married to his high-school sweetheart, he is often heard asking for a 'table for ten' to accomodate his two lovely daughters, four grandchildren and yes, the son-in-laws.

What
inspired you to write Due Diligence?

It started as a screenplay I wrote in the 1990’s.My intent was to write a love story, but felt
I needed a vehicle with multiple plots to create more of complex story.Rumors have always swirled that Castro had
bought business in Miami and around the world to hide his elicit gains.Being in the investment banking business
myself, I was told by one of my clients that another of my clients was a Castro
owned business, which of course it was not.However, the seed was planted for the main plot to develop the story.

How would
you describe the relationship between Alex and Julia?

We are supposed to have one true soul mate.Alex and Julia have found each other.However, both are married to other spouses
and thus must either ignore the impulse or succumb to the temptation.If theirs is true love and is wrong, then is
their marriage to others right?

In what way
did you want to portray Cuba?

Cuba before the Castro revolution was known as the “Jewel of the
Caribbean” with abundant natural resources and riches.After the communist take over of the island,
only the elite party members and those in the circle of power enjoy the riches.The citizenry has become totally dependent of
the government for its poop existence.Cuba became an “outlaw country” exporting communist revolution to Latin
America and involving itself in criminal activities.

Were there
any historical facts that you acquired for this book? If so, what?

In the book I cite historical accounts of the first elected president
of Cuba after the Spanish-American War when Cuba became an independent country
in the early 1900’s.The same president
who lower tariffs for American goods, so imports from the U.S. could benefit
the island and its people.In the news
today we hear a lot about GITMO, or the U.S. military base in Guantanamo,
Cuba.Again, the first president of Cuba
negotiated that agreement.My main
fictional character, Julia, is the great-great granddaughter of the first
president of Cuba.

What was
the hardest part about writing this book?

Developing a discipline to write everyday.I had the story well outlined as a result of
having written the screenplay, although I made quite a few changes from the
original screenplay to the actual published book.

What do you
hope readers will gain from your book?

I want readers to feel the
love between Alex and Julia.At the same
time, I want them to follow the complex plots I developed and be
entertained.Most of my chapters end in
a cliff-hanger making this a page-turner.Readers will also gain an insight into what it takes for a private
company to go public on Wall Street and at the same time enjoy the many Cuban
culture references in the story.

What do you
like best and what do you like least about being a writer?

I read somewhere, that writing and publishing a book is similar to
undressing in front of your closest 300 friends.I have certainly felt and feel that way every
time someone I know purchases a book.However, the satisfaction of actually completing the book, your creation
in print, is extremely gratifying.When
characters talk to authors, as mine do, and you are able to convert their story
on paper and tie it all in plots and sub-plots is exhilarating.

Who are
some of your favorite authors?

I like storytellers like Hemingway.Historical biographers are one my favorites authors no matter whom.In the fiction genre I read a lot Clancy,
Thor, Dan Brown.

Are you
working on anything right now?

Working on a sequel to Due Diligence called “I’m Coming For You”.Another fictional story involving corporate
espionage and of course, a romantic tone.

If your
book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part
of Alex and Julia? (Actors can be ANYONE, living or dead.)

Easy question.Since I
originally wrote the screenplay, I found it convenient to write to a
character.Alex my main male protagonist
is Andy Garcia.Julia my main female
protagonist is Michelle Pfeiffer.My
main male antagonist in the book is Rick Ramirez who when I wrote the
screenplay I wrote for Armand Asante.

And,
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino
literature?

I think as the Latino population of the U.S. begins grow, we should
see more and more literature geared towards their interests.Further, I see more and more Latino writers
influencing the American audience with their own brand of literature.A win-win for both.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Misplaced takes a glimmer of historical fact and weaves a story of conviction, unlikely friendships and mysterious forces at work in the Land of Enchantment. What are misgivings of a young woman compared to the needs of the greatest nation of the ancient world? Khara’s life has been spent preparing for the day when she will become Egypt’s first ruling woman. A dutiful daughter, she embraces a future already written in stone. Until the day of her coronation, when her father is brutally murdered, plunging the House of Pharaoh into what history will come to know as “70 rulers in 70 days.” To save her life, she is unwittingly thrust into the future where she lands in the Mal Pais of the American Southwest. Confused and alone, she crosses the Mexican border illegally where she is rescued by Victoria Barron, a well-meaning if not emotionally misplaced immigration attorney. Together they must outmaneuver the artifact smuggler bent on keeping Khara, the find of a lifetime in the present for his own gain. Can they find a way to return Khara to the past to claim her destiny? What happens to history as we know it if they fail?

Reviewed by: Celia

Rating: 2.5 stars

Review: This
story begins with Khara, an Egyptian princess destined to take the throne.
Before her coronation, her father is brutally murdered. That along with tension
and jealousy of a rival sibling gives the story a rather Shakespearean
undertone that is both melancholy and theatric.

Suddenly,
Khara is on a fierce run for her life and is inexplicably leapfrogged into
another body hundreds of years into the future. I still don’t get how she was
able to do that. At least we knew it was the Delorean that sent Marty McFly to
the future.

We
fast-forward somewhere to present-day Texas, to a lost, confused, little girl,
who is supposed to be Khara, but this isn’t very clear to the reader at first.

A typical
time-travel story blended with historical fiction, Misplaced follows the adventures of a young princess fighting for
both her life and the fate of her future. Story seems to be cloaked in a
suspenseful mystery that I failed to recognize on account of a slow and
uninspiring start followed by an exquisitely convoluted plot. Having read and
enjoyed other time-travel stories in the past, I anticipated to enjoy this
novel, but, sadly, that wasn’t the case for me. I do, however, see a potential
readership for this type of work.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

S.L. Hulen was born to an American aerospace engineer and a Mexican beauty who met in the flower shop of the famed Hotel Sylvia’s in Ciudad Juarez. The rich history and mysterious locations of the southwest serve as the setting for her first novel, Misplaced.She presently lives with her husband in Phoenix where the flavors, traditions, and soul of the southwest continue to inspire her.

1.What
inspired you to write MISPLACED?

It’s a story I’ve had in my head for more than twenty years now.Over time, a few details have changed, but
like many authors I’ve spoken to, the initial idea for the story came to me in
a dream.

2.How would
you describe the relationship between Menefra and Khara?

Since they’re twins, they’re closer than most siblings, but as they
grow into adults, the underlying tension of having their futures chosen for
them begins to tear them apart. Khara, the oldest, feels the burden of her
position and envies Menefra’s freedom.Menefra feels unimportant next to her accomplished sister; this fuels
the jealousy that eventually rips them apart.

3.How was
Khara able to use Victoria as her vessel and why?

In Victoria, Khara sees a fiercely independent woman, yet at the same
time, one who puts the needs of others above her own.Khara initially uses Victoria’s generosity to
navigate the modern world but very quickly, she engages her as a sounding
board, particularly regarding moral issues.

4.How would you say Victoria and Khara evolved in
this story?

I chose the name “Misplaced” because
in the beginning of the story, Khara is physically misplaced in time but
extremely clear about who she is and the role she must fill.Victoria on the other hand, knows exactly
where she is, but is emotionally misplaced.My story goal was to show their individual journeys towards discovery.

5.What are some of the most important lessons that
Victoria and Khara learned in their journey?

Victoria’s most important lesson
was to learn to trust, she’s done everything on her own for so long that it
doesn’t come easily to her. For Khara,
this time away from Egypt gave her time to explore her beliefs and for the
first time, she makes a few daring choices of her own.

6.What was the hardest part about writing this
book?

Because I’ve thought about it so
much, writing the story was the easiest part. I’d have to say that editing was
hard for me.It’s hard to give up those
details that had become so important, even when I realized they didn’t actually
help the story line.During most of the
writing of this book I had one and sometimes two full-time jobs, which left
little time for writing.

7.What do
you hope readers will gain from your book?

My goal was to not to fill in
every gap, but to leave enough unanswered questions to keep readers pondering
the possible historical consequences of such an event.

8.What do
you like best and what do you like least about being a writer?

Best is easy, I love seeing the
characters and their experiences come to life.What did I like least?I would
have to say that when you undertake a story, you put much of your life on
hold.I am rather a work first and play
later sort of person, so I always felt like I had this huge project that I had
to be chipping away at all the time.It
was wonderful to finally say, “I’m finished!”

9.Are you working on anything right now?

I’ve started my next novel.I think Victoria needs another adventure, and this one will take her deep
into Mexico, in search of her family’s history.She isn’t going to like what she finds….

10.If your
book would be turned into a movie, who would you imagine playing the part of
Khara?

I think Zoe Saldana would make a
beautiful Khara.She has a certain
seriousness and feline grace about her that I think fits Khara perfectly.She’ also so exotic looking, and slight, just
like Khara.

11.And
finally, what do you think is in store for the future of Latino literature?

That’s a fantastic
question, especially when you consider that there are roughly 40 million Latino
readers in this country.I hope to see more
books that target this significant market.Misplaced will be translated into Spanish, many other authors are doing
the same.

I believe it is our responsibility as writers to chronicle
the time in which we live, in my case it happens to be during this wonderful
emergency of Latinos appreciating their roots, even as we strive to become
model U.S. citizens.My mother was born
in Mexico, I grew up a half-mile from the border and I couldn’t be prouder.